SOUTHERN SECTION: QUIETING THE CRITICS OAKS CHRISTIAN PUTS REPUTATION ON LINE WITH TOUGH SCHEDULE.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne  Staff Writer

For the past two years, Oaks Christian of Westlake Village has had an image problem.

The Lions put up gaudy numbers, won back-to-back Southern Section Div. IV softball titles and had a 44-game winning streak. But questions persisted about the strength of their schedule and seemed to taint their accomplishments.

During the middle of last season, Oaks Christian convinced its critics by upsetting eventual Marmonte League co-champion Royal of Simi Valley in the Daily News Victory Spring Classic.

Because it was a geographic rivalry, there was a big crowd. In the next game, Oaks Christian defeated Newbury Park, another respected Marmonte League team.

``They're just so deep,'' Thousand Oaks coach Gary Walin said.

All of a sudden, people began taking a closer look at the Lions. The Southern Section also did, moving Oaks Christian to Div. III. It was the second time in three years the program was promoted to a higher division.

This season, Oaks Christian, the Daily News' preseason No. 1 team, will play its toughest schedule yet. Among the Lions' biggest games: Hart of Newhall at home March 17, the Daily News Victory Spring Classic again April 9 and 16, Crescenta Valley at home in a doubleheader April 27 and the competitive Thousand Oaks tournament April 30 and May 7.

Student Sports magazine ranks Oaks Christian No. 49 in its national poll.

``We're tired of just beating up on teams in our league - we want the challenge,'' senior third baseman Kaslin Tucker said. ``It's really nice that at such a small school we could be recognized for just our talent.''

However, Thousand Oaks isn't far behind.

The Lancers have a solid freshman class led by catcher Marla Mathews and senior pitcher in Suzanne Cominski.

Cominski shared time with Megan Spehar last season, but should see the majority of innings this year. During the summer, she worked with a personal trainer to increase her strength and stamina and has picked up 3-4 miles per hour on her fastball.

``I'm a perfectionist,'' the Harvard-bound Cominski said. ``There's always something you can improve on.''

No. 3 Valencia returns many of its top players from last year, with two very notable exceptions - pitcher Christina Ross (Kansas) and third baseman Kortney Bell (Tennessee), a three-time Daily News first-team All-Area selection.

Senior Courtney Baughman and sophomore Jordan Taylor will try to step in for Ross. The Vikings finished in a three-way tie for first last season with Saugus and Hart in the Foothill League and don't be surprised if the race is close again this year.

Another team with pitching questions is Royal of Simi Valley. The Highlanders graduated their top two: Jordan McPherson (Nevada) and Mercedes Lovato (Illinois-Chicago). But sophomore Becca Heteniak and junior Jessie Waers, a left-hander, should step right in despite their inexperience.

No. 5 Camarillo has one of the top returning pitchers in the area in sophomore Lindsey Dean. As a freshman, Dean lead the Scorpions to the Div. I semifinals, including an upset of No. 2 seed Rosary of Fullerton in the quarterfinals.

No. 6 Chaminade returns all but two starters from last season. Pitcher Brianna Barth will need to replace her older sister, Veronica, who led the Eagles to the Mission League championship last season. Chaminade of West Hills is favored to win the league again this season, but Alemany of Mission Hills and Harvard-Westlake of Studio City should challenge.

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Oaks Christian seniors from top to bottom are Erin Sakakini (top left), Kaslin Tucker (top right), Bryeanne Fitzgerald, Ashlee Veilleux and Amber Peterson.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer